REPORT
By Yamanta Raj Niroula
International Correspondent
Kathmandu, Nepal
Generation Z as Project Managers: How Nepal’s Gen Z
Redefines Project Leadership
- Introduction
On September 8-9, 2025, Kathmandu became the center of a youth-led uprising that challenged Nepal’s political system. Triggered by a sudden government ban on 26 social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X (Formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, and YouTube, the protests quickly escalated into one of the largest youth mobilizations in the country’s history. Thousands of students and young adults flooded Kathmandu’s streets to demand an end to corruption and reversal of a new government ban on popular social media platforms.
The protests, called the “Gen Z protests” were leaderless, digitally coordinated, and purpose driven. While the headlines focused on street clashes and tragic casualties, the deeper significance lies in how the protests unfolded: as a short lifecycle, a decentralized project executed with distributed responsibility across digital and physical networks.
Participants demonstrated rapid initiation, adaptive planning, and digital coordination. They used advanced project management practices without formal structures, charters, or leadership hierarchies.
Symbolic image (Source: Republica)
This report examines the Gen Z protests through a project management lens. It maps the uprising to agile and adaptive methodologies. The events show a change in how complex projects can be managed in uncertain situations. They reveal that even high-stakes efforts can succeed if teams are organized, focused, and responsive to changing circumstances. This case offers practical lessons for project managers in South Asia and beyond. It highlights what matters in leadership, governance, and managing people and resources. It also shows the importance of engaging stakeholders effectively and handling risks in real time. Finally, it points to the skills needed to work with teams that are fully comfortable with digital tools and online collaboration.
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How to cite this work: Niroula, Y. R. (2025). Generation Z as Project Managers: How Nepal’s Gen Z Redefines Project Leadership, report, PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue X, October. Available online at: https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/pmwj157-Oct2025-Niroula-Project-Management-Update-from-Nepal.pdf
About the Author
Yamanta Niroula
Kathmandu, Nepal
Yamanta Niroula is a seasoned Project Management Professional with over 17 years of extensive experience in engineering, infrastructure development, and project management across diverse global environments. His expertise includes project planning, procurement, contract management, stakeholder coordination, and risk mitigation, with a strong focus on executing projects in remote and developing regions under complex operational conditions.
Yamanta holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering and a Master of Arts in Rural Development, along with a Diploma in Civil Engineering. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) and an active member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) since 2010.
Yamanta has extensive experience in project management, successfully overseeing all stages of construction projects from initial planning to final evaluation. He specializes in managing complex processes, including procurement, contracting, and execution, while maintaining efficiency and regulatory compliance. By staying updated on industry standards and advancements, he has ensured that projects are forward-thinking, sustainable, and adaptable to changing environments.
Yamanta has successfully managed large-scale infrastructure projects, including roads, electrical infrastructure, wastewater treatment plants, logistics facilities, and disaster recovery programs. He has served in various capacities as Project Controls Specialist, Design Manager, Planning Manager, Engineer and Project Manager across international organizations and UN agencies in Nepal, the Maldives, Singapore, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Nigeria, Yemen, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
He has been responsible for project design, planning, execution, and control, ensuring timely delivery, budget adherence, and quality assurance while enhancing overall program outputs.
Yamanta lives in Kathmandu, Nepal and can be contacted at niroulayr@gmail.com
View his full correspondent profile at https://pmworldlibrary.net/yamanta-raj-niroula/
To view other works by Yamanta Ray Niroula, visit his author showcase at https://pmworldlibrary.net/authors/yamanta-raj-niroula/
